"The guy who sold me that security system guaranteed it," Ross said. "Guess I'll be asking for a refund."
Jack remained silent. Ross shifted from one foot to the other. Then he straightened, and the fake hearty note returned to his voice.
"David? You guys haven't met. This is Jack."
The young man started forward with his hand extended, but a headshake from Ross stopped him.
David motioned to the light switch. "Mind if I . . . ?"
Another headshake from his uncle. Then Ross cleared his throat.
"I heard you solved our problem. Not that I ever doubted it." Ross chuckled. "So I guess you're here to collect."
"No."
Three seconds of silence. Jack swore he heard Ross swallow.
"Well, uh," Ross began, "as long as you are here . . . David? Go grab two-fifty from the safe. No, make it three. A bonus for efficiency."
When David left, Jack said, "You've got a problem."
"Hmm?"
"Staffing issue. Three guys for one job?"
Ross gave a forced chuckle. "Right. Well, that's what I told the family--you get what you pay for. But with you not taking on more work, they didn't want to pay top dollar for an unknown. So they went cheap and hired internally."
"Internal's fine. Boys just need training. Let me talk to them."
Another chuckle. "I doubt we can afford your rates for that, Jack. They'll be fine."
"It's a freebie. Me and you? Worked together a long time. Built up a trust. Now I won't take your jobs? Leave you in the lurch? Bad form. Give me two days with your guys. No charge."
Sweat trickled down Sabato's cheek. Jack waited. As he did, his phone nudged his hip with the soft vibrate of an incoming call. His first instinct was to look at the clock. It'd be nearly three a.m. back home, and Nadia would only ever call at that hour for an emergency.
Time to get this over with. Fast.
Jack rose.
Ross started to back up and then stopped himself. "What's this about, Jack? I consider myself a man of some sensitivity, and I can tell something's wrong."
"Call your two guys. Now."
Ross swallowed. "All right. Let me go in the other room and--"
"Here. Now." Jack stepped forward. "Don't text. Call. Where I can hear."
"David will go get them. They'll be here in twenty minutes."
"Ghosts move fast," Jack said.
"Wh-what?"
"They're dead. The mark killed them. You told me they couldn't get a shot. Never even got past the setup. I asked if the mark saw either. You said, no. Never got that close. Just, apparently, close enough to get shot by him. You set me up."
Ross's eyes rounded. "I'd never--"
"You weren't trying to kill me. You aren't that stupid. But if you'd told me two men died pulling this job? I'd have said no. Wouldn't do it."